Matthew Hedges back in Britain with his wife, Daniela Tejada. He said he had been made to confess under duress to spyingTIMES PHOTOGRAPHER JACK HILL

The PhD student convicted of spying in the UAE was forced to stand for whole days in ankle cuffs and was interrogated for up to 15 hours at a time during his five-month ordeal, it can be revealed.

Matthew Hedges, 31, recounts his time in solitary confinement in an Abu Dhabi jail in an interview with The Times today. He was forced to go “cold turkey” from his medication, which was given to him at dangerous levels. “I was so scared and on edge,” he said.

The fluorescent bulbs in his cell caused migraines and he chose to sit in darkness for up to 23 hours a day, turning the light on only to eat. Mr Hedges was threatened with rendition to an overseas military…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.